The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-05
MR.. MATTHEWS, CHARACTER.

How the Neighbors and Friends of tho
Presidents Appointee Speak of the Man
Rejected by Republicans on Account of
His "Bad Reputation"
The rejection of Mr.. j. G. Matthews
by the Republican Senate is having a
more serious effect on the party than
the partisan Senators ever imagined.
The prominent representatives of tho
colorcd race all over the country have
taken the matter up and have de-
nounced the unjust, narrow-minded
policy that led to the rejection of -
bright, capable, gentlemanly, we'll
educated member of their community.
Hon. John II. Smyth, ex-Minister
TO Liberia, has been most determined
in his efforts to show up the un-
fairness and duplicity of the Rcpub-
lican party as shown in this instance.
The delegation which waited on the
President and presented him with u
most eloquent and strongly-worded
address was composed of eminent col
Bishops and minister. They regarded
it as a question of race, not politics.
Ex-Minister Smyth, Republican, by
the way, in communication to the
Argus, alludcs to card published in
our Republican morning contemporary,
and signed by colored man of this
city, stating that "All Albany joins you
in our effort to send j. C. Matthews to
Liberia Mr.. Smyth denies that he
ever suggested such trip to Africa
for Mr.. Matthews, but, on the contra
ry, considered him just the man for the
position of Recorder of Deeds for the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Smyth adds: "Thc members of
my party in the Senate opposed his
confirmation because he was Il negro
Democrat, saying, practically, that II
negro's personal liberty is limited to
voting with one party alone, and if he
dare vote or act with the Democracy he
is to be crushed. Mr. Smyth further
remarks that the better class of col
ored citizens at Albany urged the Sem
ate to confirm Mr.. Matthews. He adj
ministers the following severe rebuhe
to the solitary crank who has been air.
ing his spite against Mr.. Matthews in
the columns of our Republican con-
temporaries:
am concerned when, twenty years after our
enfranchsement, which was not due wholly to
white men of the North and West. but was due
to the combined effort of black and white men
who went to the front and battled for the main
tcnance o the Union, that negroes should not
have learned that the advancement of any man
among us, whether he af1liatcd with Democrats
or Republicans tends to lift the whole seven
millions to n higher plane Of self-respect and
respectnbility and to efface prejudice from
white men of both parties.
AS to the charges filed here against Mr.. Mat
thcws, l have to say that the committee,
through their chairman, Mr.. Ingalls, say they
were too frivolous for consideration 1t is n
fact that universally y-signed petitions Of col
ored people from Albany and all parts of the
country, whose responsibility, intelligence and
material worth entitle them to high cOnsidera-
tion asked that Mr.. Matthews be confirmed on
account of his well-known unimpeachable char
acter superior abilities and fitness for the office
TO which he was appointed.
In view of the foregoing statement from Mr..
ingalls,, which was corroborated by Senator
Harris, his colleague on the subcommittee to
investigate. can any colored man claim to be in
ment among our people ut Albany, and pretend
that the charges made against Mr. Matthews
are well founded, without laying himself open
to just censure of being little of-a crank,
for illustration.-AlJdny I,y1s.